CNN has now reported that Obama won the debate: 59 to 35 percent, based on votes from viewers. He also led by an obvious margin on important topics like the economy and foreign policy.
Dear Friend and Reader,
The second presidential debate was held tonight at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, facilitated by Tom Brockaw, and with an audience of 80 uncommitted voters, ready to present their questions.
McCain kept wandering around the stage as Obama spoke, looking lost and disoriented. He rambled on, repeating himself about $5,000 refundable tax credits towards health care.В
He took pot shots at Obama, with passive aggressive comments about fining families for not having health care coverage for their children, even after Obama explained himself eloquently.
He repeated the usual statements like “pork barrel spending,” Obama’s “on-the-job training” and “earmarks.” As CNN reporter Paul Begola stated, he seemed erratic.
Likening Obama to Herbert Hoover for raising taxes (which Obama isn’t going to do) made it seem like McCain’s the only person old enough to understand the joke.
Meanwhile, Obama presented himself as an adult: calm, controlled and measured in a speaking format he’s apparently less familiar with than McCain is.
When addressing the issue of terrorist cells in Pakistan, things got heated. McCain likened himself to his hero Teddy Roosevelt and his famous motto “speak softly and carry a big stick.” When hearing this, Obama couldn’t stay quiet any longer and insisted on a rebuttal, where he reminded the audience that McCain is the one that spoke about bombing Baghdad in the early days of invading Afghanistan, and sang “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran” — not exactly the definition of speaking softly.
When McCain heard there was going to be a rebuttal, he responded like a cranky younger brother who wanted his brother’s Tonka truck: if he can, then I want to be able to!
As the debate wound down, the divisions between the candidate’s foreign policies became sharper; particularly when McCain stated that he wouldn’t wait for UN approval to attack Iran if they attack Israel.В
Obama responded by stating there must be preemptive measures to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. He stated that he wouldn’t agree with UN veto power that would prevent them from dealing with Iran. He repeated that he wouldn’t take the military option “off the table,” but that he’s interested in dealing with Iran diplomatically: something John McCain refuses to do. He believes that taking that approach improves the chance of better relations with countries like Iran and North Korea.
The final question was “what don’t you know, and how will you learn it?”
We didn’t receive the philisophical responses that viewers may have expected; instead hearing more of the generic closing statements about struggling to get to where they are and loving their countries.
In the end, Barack and Michelle Obama lingered, interacting with the audience informally, long after the McCains left the building.В
But all in all, Obama came across as the knowledgeable, mature candidate that we know we can trust. And if McCain’s wheezing and stumbling around was any indication, all we’ll need is a light breeze to knock the Republican ticket right over on November 4th.
Yours & truly,
how about when mccain referred to obama as “that one”? is there a more disresepctful way to refer to someone?!
“There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one,” McCain said, pointing to Obama. “You know who voted against it? Me.”
The CNN indicators showed the dials going off the charts–even among Republicans!!
McCain has absolutely no respect for Obama. Its as if he’s pissed that he’s losing to the young one. Its painful to watch and probably to experience.